This device lets you watch broadcast TV shows with the convenience of Netflix — and without having to pay for cable

“Cord cutters” who ditch their cable subscriptions can still get
access to the major broadcast networks, like CBS or ABC, for free
by just installing an antenna. But the problem with this system
is that you actually have to watch the program at the scheduled
time, or have a DVR tied just to your TV.

For those who have fled TV and live mostly in
the world of Netflix and Hulu, the idea of not being able to
watch shows whenever they want, on whatever platform they are in
the mood for, can be irritating.

Tablo is a device that solves this problem by
recording broadcast TV and letting you play it back whenever you
want. And, whereas traditional DVRs connect to a single TV via an
HDMI cable, Tablo uses Wi-Fi to let you stream those recorded
shows on any (compatible) device you want.

You could watch on a TV connected to a Roku,
your iPhone, your laptop — the list goes on.

Nathan McAlone

And since Tablo records the shows to any external hard drive you
plug in, the amount of shows you could record is theoretically
endless. A Tablo representative said the biggest hard drive they
have tested is 8 terabytes, which is a gargantuan amount of
shows.

At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES)
in Las Vegas, Tablo announced a few new devices that it works
with, notably the Apple TV and all LG smart TVs. These join an
impressive list that includes Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, and iOS
or Android phones and tablets.

The standard Tablo 2-Tuner (which can record two
shows at once) retails for $219.99. And Tablo’s premium
subscription, which gives you a bunch of extra features, is $4.99
per month.